3D Virtual Reality to Eliminate Water Infrastructure Flaws

3D virtual reality technology could be the saviour of water infrastructure design flaws, with the Water Corporation implementing the technology to eliminate potential safety issues during the design process.

The technology will simulate how water and wastewater infrastructure will function before being built to improve engineering.

“This is a big step forward in the way the Water Corporation can improve engineering to eliminate potential safety issues during the design process, which saves time and money,” water and innovation minister Dave Kelly said.

“Creating a virtual reality model of a design allows workers to ‘work through’ a new asset, which helps to identify potential safety concerns of faults, while still in the design phase.”

Design drawings are traditionally reviewed in a two-dimensional format, but the Water Corporation will now convert designs into three-dimensional virtual reality.

Water Corporation recently used virtual reality to allow its Northam office operators to experience the design of wastewater recycling plants at Kellerberrin and Wyalkatchem in 3D.

It has allowed operators to provide feedback to improve occupational health and safety design.

“It is great to see technology used to improve efficiency and safety for workers,” Mr Kelly said.

Mr Kelly said it is a new purpose for the technology.

“While the technology is not new, the way it is being used for this purpose is,” he said.

The corporation is further investigating other purposes for virtual reality including training and testing maintenance programs.